A wet summer so far in 2025 has resulted in nearly the entire state of Iowa being drought-free.
The U.S. Drought Monitor offers a state-by-state tracking of drought conditions nationwide. New maps and forecasts are released each Thursday. What are the current drought conditions in Iowa?
US Drought Monitor map: Drought nearly erased in Iowa
The latest Drought Monitor report, released on July 24, showed that 96% of Iowa had no dryness or drought conditions.
The only areas experiencing abnormal dryness or moderate drought are Wapello County, parts of Monroe and Davis Counties, and the southwest corner of the state.
Thursday’s report represents a double-digit improvement from the last report on July 17, when 88% of Iowa reported no abnormal dryness or drought. The Drought Monitor from June 26 in Iowa reported that just 45% of the state was experiencing no dryness or drought conditions.
This time last year, 100% of Iowa was drought-free. This was partly due to Iowa experiencing an unusually wet spring and early summer last year, which ended a four-year drought in the state.
What are the Iowa Drought Monitor levels?
The intensity levels range from abnormally dry, or D0, to exceptional drought, or D4.
Typically, under D0 conditions, corn can show drought stress. Pond levels start to decline under moderate drought conditions and soybeans abort pods, according to the Drought Monitor. The Drought Monitor also has a look-back chart that compares drought conditions from 3 months ago up to 1 year ago.
Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Drought Monitor map shows July rainfall wiping out much of Iowa’s drought
Reporting by Cooper Worth, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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